Joseph Monninger was an American writer and Professor of English at Plymouth State University. He lived in Warren, New Hampshire. In his youth, Monninger was a Peace Corps volunteer and was twice a recipient of National Endowment for the Arts fellowships.

In 2021, Monninger, a non-smoker, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. His book Goodbye To Clocks Ticking is a memoir of the first year after diagnosis. He died on January 1, 2025, at the age of 71. His death was announced on January 8.